Leading Lady Sweetheart Bracelet, Gold Filled Monogram H
This sweetheart bracelet is a special one, it has an intricate open-work panel of scrolling gold, anchored by a heart-shaped medallion engraved with a flowing script "H," and framed by a pair of delicate floral rosettes. Where most sweetheart bracelets from this era favor simplicity, this one was clearly made to be noticed.
The detail work is extraordinary. Every curl of the scrollwork, every petal on the rosettes, was worked by hand in an era when jewelry like this was made to be treasured - not mass-produced. It's paired with a textured, woven expansion band.
Marked "Leading Lady" and made in the USA, this bracelet dates confidently to the 1940s - a genuine piece of sweetheart jewelry history, and one of the more elaborate examples we've come across.
Details:
- Era: 1940s (Retro)
- Material: Gold filled
- Marking: "Leading Lady"
- Monogram: "H," engraved in flowing script
- Design: Openwork scrollwork with floral rosette accents, textured expansion band
- Measurements: Expands from 5" to 8"
- Complimentary
- US shipping on this piece
Styling Notes: We love this bracelet worn on its own as a statement piece, or layered with other gold pieces for a collected look.
Provenance:This bracelet was made by the W & H Jewelry Company, a Providence, Rhode Island maker established in 1856. The company began marking their expansion bracelets "Harwood" in 1937 and added "Leading Lady" to that mark starting in 1940 - dating this piece confidently to the 1940s. Sweetheart bracelets like this one were popular tokens of love and connection during the WWII era, often personalized with a monogram to mark them as a keepsake from someone special.
The hipV collection:
Antique and vintage jewelry. Thoughtfully selected and designed for modern wear.
Selected for craftsmanship. Designed for today. Collected for tomorrow.